Talent Show at Church

We had a talent show a Church Friday night each auxiliary had to do a talent along with other that wanted to sign up. I was part of the Relief Society's. We did a spoof of America Got Talent. It was called Relief Society Got Know Talent. One lady played chop sticks on the piano with chop sticks, on lady juggled the parts of her day (study the gospel, family meals, and work). Your dad and I did our dance from last summer. It was a hoot. Ken got so involved in acting that when I put my leg up to be PUSH around in a circle somehow I was PUSHED DOWN the fall really added to the dance. (I am not hurt). Everyone had a great time.

Jam Day

Today I made the first of the raspberry jam. It is so yummy! I made 14 pints and 1 1/2 pint jar of jam, plus the left over bowl of jam that we got to eat. I still have about 2 gallons or raspberries to make into jam. I love to can!

Giant Plants

Ken told Janet how tall the raspberry plants are this year so here they are the tall one are the new plant that will produce berries next year they are at least 7 feet tall. To bad I will have to cut them back this fall. I have picked 3 gallons of berries now. Today was the most, I got one gallon. I can't get over how big the berries are, they are HUGE. I'm sure it is because of all the water Ken gives them. He can't wait until I start making jam, right now I am just freezing them. Anyone that wants start can get them next spring, if you are afraid of the weather in Eastern Idaho don't worry I got these plants from my neighbor and she got her start from her parents that live in Rire. Did you like that genealogy record of the raspberries?

Meet the girls there are 8 of them.

This is the beginning of the chicken coop. You know Ken wanted to be be able to stand up inside and have lots of room for his chickens.





As we finished it it became a chicken coop that could be a two story condo.

What we have been doing in the summer time

I picked my first raspberries today they were so good. I got about 2 cups. We went to Ann Morrison Park for the 4th of July, it was a good time. Shane, Christine and Izzy went with us and we took a picnic for lunch and dinner. We got there at about 2:00 and stayed until the after the fireworks they were wonderful. We got home around 11:30.
Janet I can't get into your blog it says I need an invite, just wanted to let you know. We are missing everyone and enjoy the pictures I can't believe how quick everyone grows. Looking forward to seeing everyone in eastern Idaho in Aug. We have planted 24 tomato plants in the front yard this year, and have two trellises for the green beans, so I will be very busy later.

I Love Craig's List

Since we are now in the chicken ranch business I have been looking on Craig's List for cheep material to build a chicken coop with. I found used 2 x 4's with no nails when I call they were only one dollar a board. We went out a week ago Saturday to get some. When we left it was cloudy, then it rained on the way to the place and turned to snow. We loaded the boards in the rain some were 8 feet long great some were 16 feet long. We had them push all the way to the dash but thay still stuck out of the Blazer as you can see. We tied them down with twine that we planned on tying down the back gate with. Ken laid his body over the boards in the back for the entire ride home. Did we have anything to put on the end of the longest board? Noooooo. It was just a long slow drive in the rain, snow, wind, and finally sun when we got to the house. I also found 3/4 inch plywood for 10.00 a sheet and 80 lineral feet of insulation for 20.00, and chiken wire 150 feet new for 35.00 great deal.

Henrietta, Red, and Penny

These are our 5 baby chickens there are 3 Barred Rock (black and white speckled) I name them Henrietta one name for all three because you can't tell them apart. 1 Road Island Red, named Red of course and 1 New Hampshire named Penny. They have been living in the house for three weeks in one of the extra bedrooms. Last night we moved them outside and I am so glad to have them out of the house. They have grown a lot since we got them. We went to Parma to get them, they had all kinds of chickens. One type of chicken they had that I wish we had gotten was a naked necked chicken, it was so funny looking they are hatched with naked necks from they chest all the way to the bottom of their head. As adults they still have naked necks, maybe we will get one next year. We now have 8 chickens and have split the back yard so the dogs have part of the yard and the chickens have the other part.

Boise Updates

Today was the day that the third chicken caught up. We are now getting 3 eggs a day. We had snow all morning and most of the afternoon today. It was large, heavy, wet flakes, but most of it has melted now. I will be going on track break at the end of this week, I can't wait!

Chicken Ranch

We are the newest Chicken Farmers in Boise! After the Carter's got their chickens Ken has been wanting chickens too. We found a set up on Craig's List and bought the pen, coop and three chicken on Saturday Feb. 12th. Now we are getting 2 eggs a day and waiting for the third chicken to catch up. We like to let them out in the back yard to run around part of the day. Today when Ken when out to put them back in their pen the 4 dogs got out with him and started chasing the chickens it was a real feather and fur flying time, along with the stick Ken was swinging at the dogs to get them away from the chicken, until they could get back into their pen. Such is the life of a farmer.

Twinkies and Root Beer

In church today this story was told in a talk, we liked it so much we wanted to pass it on.

Twinkies and Root Beer

A little boy wanted to meet God. He knew it was a log trip to where God lived, so he packed his suitcase with Twinkies and a six pack of Root Beer and he started on his journey.

When he had gone about three blocks, he met an elderly man. The man was sitting in the park just feeding some pigeons. The boy sat down next to him and opened his suitcase. He was about to take a drink from his root beer when he noticed that the man looked hungry, so he offered him a Twinkie. The man gratefully accepted it and smiled at the boy. His smile was so pleasant that the boy wanted to see it again, so he offered him a root beer. Again, the man smiled at him. The boy was delighted! They sat there all afternoon eating and smiling, but they never said a word.

As it grew dark, the boy realized how tired he was and he got up to leave, but before he had gone more than a few steps, he turned around, ran back to the man, and gave him a hug. The man gave him his biggest smile ever.

When the boy opened the door to his own house a short time later, his mother was surprised by the look of joy on his face. She asked him, "What did you do today that made you so happy?"

He replied, "I had lunch with God." But before his mother could respond, he added, "You know what? God's got the most beautiful smile I've ever seen!"

Meanwhile, the elderly man, also radiant with joy, returned to his home. His son was stunned by the look of peace on his face and he asked, "Dad, what did you do today that made you so happy?"

He replied, " ate Twinkies in the park with God." However, before his son responded, he added, "You know, he's much younger than I expected."

Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around. People came into our lives for a reason, a season, or a lifetime. ~author unknown~

FUN FUN FUN at the DENTIST

Your Dad wanted me to write and tell you all about the adventures we have had at the dentist. I made appointments for the end of December, to have both of our teeth cleaned and a small cavity fill in one of Ken's teeth (they found it the last time he was in for a cleaning 3 months ago). Then I got a bad tooth ache and had to wait until the day I went in for the cleaning. It is not easy to eat Christmas dinner when your mouth hurts. We went in on December 30th, that small cavity that Ken had was now to large to fill and had to be pulled, and he had 8 more cavities. My pain turned out to be an inflamed gum around a tooth.

Ken went back to the dentist today to have the 8 cavities fixed, which they did. Then the doctor went on to give him the "news"

1. he has to give up ALL SODA the acid in the soda is eating away at his teeth


2. his medication is also eating away at his teeth


3. he doesn't produce saliva any more (also due to medication) so his teeth aren't rinsed by the saliva through out the day and night


4. he has to brush his teeth 3 yes 3 times a day


5. he has to use a special toothpaste that cost $18.00 a tube


6. suck on special sugar free lemon drops to help produce saliva to rinse his teeth


7. he has to get a Sonic tooth brush (the doctor said it is the best)

It is twelve days to the opening of the new canning season they will be canning beef, turkey, pork, and chicken chunks. This will be his tenth year. He is looking forward to it.